Former Portland Mayor Connie McCready died at the age of 79 on December 22 from complications from a stroke.

McCready wrote for The Oregonian from the early 1940s to the early 1960s and served as the Home & Garden editor.

She was a member of the Oregon Legislative Assembly during the 1967 and 1969 sessions. While serving on the Portland City Council from 1970 to 1980, McCready took the helm as mayor for the last 14 months to fill a vacancy.

McCready is survived by her husband, Albert McCready, a former managing editor of The Oregonian; three daughters, Molly of Portland, Martha of Bellevue, Wash., and Nancy Higgins of Potomac, Md.; as well as five grandchildren.

Robert H. Short ’50

Robert H. Short ’50, former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Portland General Electric, died May 5 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. He was 76.

Short graduated from the School of Journalism and Communication after serving with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific during World War II. He went on to positions as city editor for the Klamath Falls Herald & News and news editor of KUGN radio in Eugene.

Short was the public information director for the Eugene Water & Electric Board before moving to PGE in 1955. He became vice president in 1964, president in 1977 and retired as chief executive officer and chairman of the board in 1988.
Short, a longtime supporter of the School, was awarded a UO Distinguished Service Award in 1986.

He is survived by his wife, Ruby; sons, Robert L. and Casey; daughter, Victoria Short Baum; and four grandchildren.